What kind of buffing wheels?

[4ND3R5]

What kind of buffing wheels do you recommend for you knives? Felt? I have an 8" Rikon low speed polisher. Thanks.

[Brian T]

I would not use that on wood carving edges. The wheels, all of them, are soft enough to rebound as they pass the edge and round off the bevel. You try that and your tool seems suddenly very, very dull.
Same as pressing down hard into a leather strop. It can kill a good edge.

Polishing just about anything else made of metal? Go for it. From time to time, Dad would do up the family silverware, just brilliant sparkles.

[PittsburghTim]

What kind of buffing wheels do you recommend for you knives? Felt? I have an 8" Rikon low speed polisher. Thanks.

I have used a medium felt wheel (it is still much firmer than any regular buffing wheel) from Lee Valley with green compound and have had very good results. With light pressure, I have not experienced any rounding over of the edge. They are only 6 inches in diameter, so I use it on a small 6" grinder with the top of the wheel running away from me, which is reverse.

[4ND3R5]

I would not use that on wood carving edges. The wheels, all of them, are soft enough to rebound as they pass the edge and round off the bevel. You try that and your tool seems suddenly very, very dull.
Same as pressing down hard into a leather strop. It can kill a good edge.

Polishing just about anything else made of metal? Go for it. From time to time, Dad would do up the family silverware, just brilliant sparkles.

Sorry, I should have clarified. I'm just using the polishing wheel to buff the raw metal of homemade knifes. Im not using it to sharpen; just trying to get a nice finish on a blade.

[Nebraska]

High density wool or Sisal wheel

[Brian T]

AH, thank you. I understand. When you get the process figured out, please describe.
I have a 6 speed grinder/polisher still in the box and 3 of my favorite cleavers are badly tarnished.

[buckbeans]

I am now using a Nora Hall hard felt and paste similar to the koch system. The old concerns do not apply to this particular system. You only sharpen on the outside bevel and the burr will be eliminated. there is no need for buffing the inside bevel. Sharpening time cut to seconds rather than minutes. You do have to use a hard felt wheel which is a lot more expensive. I only wish most nay sayers would hold their opinion unless they have tried this. The german version is the system of choice for Reto Odermatt a talented wood carver who represents Swiss Pfeil tools from Switzerland.